Post originally by Lord Liaden at 2004-08-31 09:26:11
Converted from Phorums BB System

In his review Funksaw said:

"GURPS Lite is 32 pages long but contains pretty much everything you need to run the GURPS system, although not everything you need to run every possible game under the GURPS system. Indeed, in this respect, many of the features of the "full" GURPS Basic Set can be seen as "modules" to GURPS Lite - and every GURPS supplement is, essentially, a module. (Here's your magic module, here's your psionics module, here's your space module, etc.) As if to prove the case in point – many of the GURPS supplements can be used solely with GURPS Lite due to the designed modularity of GURPS. Sidekick is 128 pages long and still leaves out key parts of the core HERO system - HERO is just a system that's designed to work together as a cohesive whole and can't really be redacted to a simpler form."

Some of how this comparison is expressed is IMO a bit misleading. The GURPS Basic Set does provide you with all the basics of the system, but not everything you NEED to run many genres. For example, if you want a fantasy campaign including magic, you NEED to buy the "magic module" - you can't use the Basic Set to devise it yourself. Sidekick allows you to create your own magic system, psionics, space stuff, etc. Or you can buy one of the Hero Games supplements that prebuilds these things for you... but none of them are essential.

I have to disagree that Sidekick "leaves out key parts of the core HERO system." Sidekick excludes a few of the more complex elements such as specific Powers and Skills (noted in a sidebar in the book), but the vast majority are included, and none of the core mechanics needed to play the game are left out. 90% of what's in all the published supplements for the full HERO 5th ruleset can be used with Sidekick alone.

Sidekick is intended as an introduction to the full HERO System rather than a stand-alone product, yet on its own is actually far more usable as the basis for any kind of HERO game than GURPS Lite on its own is for any kind of GURPS game.